A PENSIONER whose thatched cottage was destroyed during a string of arson attacks emerged from hiding yesterday and spoke of her relief that no-one was injured.

Jean Gladstone, left, was the victim of a horrific arson attack on her home in rural Oxfordshire

The home of 80-year-old Jean Gladstone was targeted along with council buildings and a funeral parlour during a terrifying nine minute rampage which terrorised a village in rural Oxfordshire.

Andrew Main, a 47-year-old farmer, was last night still being quizzed by detectives after being arrested on suspicion of arson. It is believed he was involved in a planning application dispute with Ms Gladstone who escaped unharmed from her home in Roke Marsh during the blaze, which began in the early hours of Thursday. Neighbours said the pair “did not see eye-to-eye”.

Just over 24 hours after fleeing the inferno, Ms Gladstone stood outside her beloved Quakers’ Corner Cottage with a beaming smile, chatting to police officers while they maintained a cordon around her property.

I was very fortunate. We are thankful that everybody is safe

Jean Gladstone

While declining to comment on the alleged problems with Mr Main who owns neighbouring land, she said: “I just want to thank all my friends. I was very fortunate. We are thankful that everybody is safe.”

More than 30 people were evacuated while bomb squad officers searched farm buildings and her home during a massive operation.

Ms Gladstone, who has lived in the cottage for nearly 40 years, went on: “I don’t want any publicity. It’s a fabulous village. They are all friends. It’s a family here. People have been amazing, offering beds and everything. The only thing I took out of the house was a lovely bunch of flowers, simply because they were there as I rushed out.”

Ms Gladstone, described by neighbours as a “genial but feisty old bird”, added: “I’m absolutely in top gear.” Ms Gladstone returned briefly to her cottage to retrieve food items out of a deep freezer.

Later, she went for lunch in a nearby pub. A relative said: “She’s tired and doesn’t want to talk any more about it.”

Firefighters launched a massive operation involving 27 crews to control the three blazes.

The first was at Ms Gladstone’s ‘picture-book’ home, followed by a second at Chadwick Howard Funeral Service in Benson Lane in the village of Crowmarsh Gifford.